Now that it’s in its seventh year, the annual Break the Chain Pub Crawl can be considered a time-honored tradition in Lake County.

Begun in 2008 by the Kirtland City Tavern, it breaks the midwinter monotony of cabin fever for hundreds of people, many of whom treat it like date night — or date afternoon as the case may be.

Anyone who eats out much knows that Sundays can be difficult, because lots of non-chain eateries aren’t open. Those independent restaurants that are open often find midwinter Sundays — especially in February — to be quite challenging because Northeast Ohioans tend to stay home.

“It’s a chance to support restaurants owned and operated by people who live in our communities,” said Mike Hutter, one of the Crawl’s originators and co-owner of Kirtland City Tavern.

Each of the four taverns had a designated Sunday to offer a food and beer special. Those who came on that day would get a card punched and exchange it on the final Sunday for a $25 gift card for a return visit to one of the four.

It was simple and straightforward, and the turnout was good. Diners got good value with food special priced between $5 and $7, and pints of beer at $2.

But there were a few bumps in the road.

Even though they knew to expect a crowd, a few of the restaurants became overwhelmed. Others, not realizing that the real bottom line was to increase future business by introducing themselves to new folks, dropped out because after they gave out $100 in gift cards they didn’t make the profit they expected.

“Last year we had about 450 people,” said Mike’s wife, Maureen Hutter of Kirtland City Tavern. “Every year there’s been a bigger turnout.”

The competition has become keen for an eatery to participate in the Pub Crawl because word has spread that it pays off over the long haul. At Kirtland City Tavern, the Hutters start getting calls a year in advance.

For this year’s Crawl, the participant list was finalized by June.

“There are a lot of good pubs out there, but they need to get in touch with us early,” she said.

She’s observed over the years that several couples often come together, leaving the kids at home for a grown-up afternoon or evening out.

“We’re right on Route 306, but we’re set back from the highway,” she said. “I’m always hearing people say they’ve passed right by us for years and never knew what a neat place it is inside.”

Kirtland City Tavern has the first crawl spot on Sunday, where people get their punch card and give the Hutters a good idea as to how many participants the other places can expect. They’ll discount their half-pound hamburger to $5.99 during the Pub Crawl, but crawlers can also order any other food item and a beverage to qualify for a punch.

Brindaliers Bar and Grille in Willoughby Hills has the Feb. 16 Sunday and will serve a $5.99 chicken Parmesan sandwich as its special that day.

“We’ve had it as a special a couple of times,” said owner Justin Sell. ”People seem to like it.”
Brindaliers, whose name is a combination the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers, is a newcomer to the Pub Crawl.

“They asked us really early and were very persistent in wanting to be a part of it,” said Maureen Hutter.

Sell is really proud of his kitchen and eager to expose his food to a wider number of people. A professional chef — Culinary Institute of America graduate Thomas Immormino — runs the kitchen.

“He’s very creative,” Sell said. “We know that once people come here and taste our food, they’ll be back.”

He’s also confident that the crowds won’t overwhelm Brindaliers, as they have for a few past Crawl participants.

”Many of us are from Pickle Bill’s, so we know how to handle high volume,” he said. “We have plenty of staff planned for that day.”

He knows that at least 400 diners will come between the hours of 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Still, like the others, he hopes they don’t all come at the same time.

It’s the third time that Brennan’s Fish House in Grand River has been part of the Pub Crawl. And, because it’s not usually open on Sundays during the winter, owners Sharon and Steve Hill are able to join the Pub Crawl as paying customers at the other places.

“People on the Crawl get used to seeing the same people each week, and some are surprised to see us behind the bar and taking care of tables when they come here,” laughed Sharon. “The Pub Crawl is the only Sunday we are open all winter.”

It’s often fairly quiet in Grand River in winter, and people don’t think to come to Brennan’s on Sunday.

“It’s nice having Sundays off,” she said. “In the summer we’re open seven days a week.”

She’ll be serving a perch sandwich at $5 and Miller Light pints for $2 “But we’ll have the whole menu available,” she said. “We have a really fast kitchen, so keeping up the crowds is no problem for us.”
Brennan’s will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 23.

“It really goes fast,” she said.

The conclusion of this year’s pub crawl is on March 2 at Firehouse Grille and Pub, at 2768 Stark Drive and a Willoughby Hills neighbor to Brindaliers.

“February is usually pretty slow, but we’ll be jam-packed for our Pub Crawl day,” said owner Marty Graham, who celebrates his 10th anniversary in business this August.